No doubt, the business community bears the brunt of poor infrastructure, dearth of credit facility and general economic degradation in Nigeria. As the country celebrates its 52nd Independence Anniversary, tomorrow, it is a mixed bag of reactions for stakeholders, who spoke to EMMA EKE, at the weekend.'Govt Organs Such As Customs Must Behave Responsibly''Wilson Mbah, Corporate Management ExpertTHERE are so many things that need to be corrected if the country is to be truly independent. How can we be talking of 52nd Independence Anniversary when institutions meant to deliver services are not really doing so'Some of us were grown up enough at the time, to tell the story of Nigerian Independence and the entire dream the founding fathers had of it.Prior to the date, October 1, 1960, Nigerians were made to understand that the raising of the flag was the medicine the nation needed for cure of all social, economic and political malaise. But, more than half a century after that, we are yet to see things work.It is appalling, for instance, that the Customs and Exercise will continue to be harassing businessmen, even within their business premises. The news the other day was that a cache of arms and ammunition ' including rocket launchers ' were discovered in a warehouse in Lagos.The question is: where were the security organs, particularly the Customs and Excise, whose duty it is to man the borders when these items crossed' But here is a government organisation that has found it more expedient to disturb a motorist (as soon as they discover he is a businessman) while on his lawful engagement.There are several cases of harassment of businessmen, who are often subjected to untold embarrassment by the Customs officers. One of them was accosted for a car he had been using for more than seven years for allegedly not having import duties.This is disturbing and cannot give the needed confidence for the growth of the business sector. It is disheartening to see this happen 52 years after independence.Let us allow the rule of law to prevail in today's Nigeria; that is the only way the dream of the founding fathers can be sustained. Anything to the contrary is not good and should be done away with, because other countries are not waiting for us.The business community should be encouraged to grow through the creation of an enabling environment.'Govt Must Improve Infrastructure, Take Private Sector Seriously'' Chief Chilasa Kalu, Maritine Business ManagerNIGERIA is a country of godly people, and that is why we must always give thanks to God for having led us so far, despite the hurdles on the way. Compared with where we are coming from, I can say we have not fared badly in the recent past.Though, the leadership has disappointed the people on different fronts. The leaders know that Nigerians are very resilient and patient, compared with what has been happening in other parts of the world, especially the Arab World.It has been quite tasking on all fronts, especially for the business community of this nation. Of course, it cannot be isolated from the experiences of the other sectors. However, if the government, at all levels, will continue to identify with the people's hope and aspiration ' as was the case with the planned Naira restructuring, against which many Nigerians voiced out their feelings and government suspended it '' the people's confidence will return.The key issue is how to improve the state of infrastructure. As a businessman, this is the worst experience for me.We must thank the media for being on the side of the people all this while; otherwise, things would have gotten worse than they are today.In the next 10 years, the business community is looking forward to real growth, as was the case some 30 years ago.Our views as private businessmen and women should be taken into cognisance on every national issue.Let the government stop taking it for granted that, because Nigerians are very patient, then anything goes. There is a limit to what the people can bear.We are getting enlightened everyday, thanks to the information technology age, meaning that our leaders should not allow things to get to the point of what they are in other parts of the world. But there is a sign of light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps that calls for more action.'Commerce And Trade Need ToBe Emphasised'' Chief Godwin Okoye, Chairman/CEO, GODSAB Business VenturesTHE business community has been the worst hit these 52 years. There are so many reasons for that; but the foremost is that all the business ventures in this country are self-centred; self-financing without any support from government. There hasn't been loans, grants or infrastructure-base.But this is contrary to what obtains in other parts of the world, where a businessman can walk to a bank ' armed only with his business proposal, which the bank managers recognise as valuable asset ' and enter into negotiation with the managers, with his shoulders high. They don't just stop at agreeing to extend any needed assistance, particularly loans; they, often times, go out of their way to offer some other technical advice at the request of the businessman.That is how one of the third world countries, China, has become what it is in today's business world.Some of us have associates there, who don't believe that each of us create our business lines from the scratch to where we meet them to supply us goods.Is this what other countries (with similar colonialism experience) are passing through after their independence' It is a miracle seeing that they've gone so far ahead of us. The country is endowed and since all us cannot be civil servants, it is for those, who have accepted that they can lead the country well, to answer the basic question: why can't we as a business community be allowed to benefit from the resources of this country''What has been easily noticeable is corruption. There are empty promises as well. I know that all our leaders, present or past, are either Christians or Moslems, the tenets of which abhor making unfulfilled promises.Tell me how they (leaders) have gone out to create the impression that there are some special banks ' Bank of Industry, Mortgage banks and a number of Microfinance banks ' to help the real sector and other businessmen set up their businesses with loans and grants from these institutions, when they know there is hardly any of them doing that.A foreign partner of mine told me how he visited a Nigerian embassy to make inquiry about his business trip and was told that businessmen in Nigeria were not willing to come for loans, specially set aside every year to promote trade and commerce.This is another way of making it seem that most of us (businessmen) are lazy or are not into genuine trade, hence, our foot-dragging when it comes to seeking loans.Still, the truth is that there is no organ of government that is willing to give us a listening ear on our daily problems, let alone give us loan.For the country to make it in the next 10 next years, it must recognise the role that commerce plays in any society that wants to benefit from the concept of global village, which has made it possible for you to sit in the comfort of your home and have items that are not produced in your country.Until commerce and Agriculture are given the needed attention, cases of unemployment with its attendant security issues will continue to rise.'The EPZ Programmes NeedFull Implementation'' Boniface Emeayo, Businessman and former civil servant ServantI served the country as a senior personnel manager in the Federal Civil Service before joining business after retirement. At the seminars we had, we were told that business ventures are promising.But today, five years after that promise, the situation is still anything but promising.As a former public office holder, I was one of those preparing for the future, but it appears all of that effort is lost with time, given the downturn of the economy. We had thought that, at 50, Nigeria would be competing favourably, but that is yet to happen.I will want to suggest that the EPZ and other economic programmes of the past administration be fully implemented to create a better investment environment in the next five years.
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